Thursday, April 28, 2016

Below is a screenshot of a Maze reading that I created using Interventioncentral.org

Fluency Probe

Below is a screen shot of a fluency probe I created through Inverventioncentral.org

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Visual Perception

Below I completed a checklist on a student's vision. Any score that is 15 or higher should be referred for vision problem. The student does wear glasses (but not consistently). He displays a lot of these symptoms. He scored a 16. 

Child Symptom Checklist
(To determine whether a vision evaluation should be administered)
Has your child ever reported or have you or anyone else noticed any of the following?
1. ___×___Skips lines while reading or copying
2. ___×_Loses place while reading or copying
3. __×___Skips words while reading or copying
4. _×__Substitutes words while reading or copying
5. ______Rereads words or lines
6. ______Reverses letters, numbers, or words
7. ______Uses a finger or marker to keep place while reading or writing
8. _×_____Reads very slowly
9. ___×__Poor reading comprehension
10. __×_Difficulty remembering what has been read
11. ___×___Holds head too close to paper when reading or writing (within 7-8 inches)
12. ______Squints, closes, or covers one eye while reading
13. ___×___Unusual posture or head tilt when reading or writing
14. ______Headaches following intense visual activities such as reading
15. ______Eyes hurt or feel tired after close work
16. ______Feels unusually tired after completing a visual task
17. ______Double vision
18. ______Vision blurs at distance when looks up from near work
19. ______Letters or lines “run together or words “jump” when reading
20. ______Print seems to move or go in and out of focus when reading
21. ___×___Poor spelling skills
22. __×____Writing is crooked or poorly spaced
23. ______Misaligns letters or numbers
24. __×__Makes errors copying
25. ______Difficulty tracking moving objects
26. ______Unusual clumsiness, poor coordination
27. ______Difficulty with sports involving good eye-hand coordination
28. ______Eye turns in or out
29. ______Sees more clearly with one eye than the other
30. ______Feels sleepy while reading
31. ______Dislikes tasks requiring sustained concentration
32. ______Avoids near tasks such as reading
33. ______Confuses right and left directions
34. _×_____Becomes restless when working at his/her desk
35. ______Tends to lose awareness of surroundings when concentrating
36. ______Must “feel” things to “see” them
37. ______Carsickness
38. ___×___Unusual blinking
39. ____×__Unusual eye rubbing
40. __×___Dry eyes

41. ______Watery eyes

Sunday, April 10, 2016

eBook experience

Social Studies, Literacy, and Social Justice in the Common Core Classroom: A Guide for Teachers by Ruichi Agarwal-Rangnath.

This book is about using Language Arts Common Core state standards in Social Studies. It was written to help teachers teach students social studies for social justice. With the Language Arts state standards, this will promote critical thinking and have students question the world around us.

http://www.amazon.com/Social-Studies-Literacy-Justice-Classroom/dp/0807754080/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460331291&sr=8-1&keywords=Social+Studies%2C+Literacy%2C+and+Social+Justice+in+the+Common+Core+Classroom

I read this book on my Kindle App. I had to read the device on either my phone (which is smaller than I would like for reading purposes) or on my laptop, which made me less mobile. The book was informational, but my overall experience was not too pleasant because I was not comfortable while reading the book.

The book was very valuable for education. With this book, I have learned how to have students to not be afraid to ask questions about the world around them. It is important to teach students the different sides of history because in Social Studies, we normally only teach the perspective of America as opposed to the marginalized groups (slaves, Native Americans, etc.)

Text Set

Here is a text set of eBooks that I have collected about Florida.

1)   Description: Macintosh HD:Users:samuelsy:Desktop:Screen Shot 2016-04-10 at 7.07.15 PM.pngIt Happened in Florida by E. Lynne Wright  History- Non-Fiction https://www.overdrive.com/media/1324178/it-happened-in-florida From Ponce de Leon's discovery of the "Land of Flowers" in 1513 to the suspense of the 2000 presidential election, It Happened in Florida takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of thirty of the most compelling episodes from the Sunshine State's vibrant past. This revised edition includes brand new glimpses into Florida history, a map, and a thorough index.
2)   Description: Macintosh HD:Users:samuelsy:Desktop:Screen Shot 2016-04-10 at 7.05.23 PM.pngFlorida: This Land is Your Land by Ann R. Heinrichs History-Non Fiction https://www.overdrive.com/media/130067/florida Describes the history, geography, government, economics, and people of Florida.
3)   Description: Macintosh HD:Users:samuelsy:Desktop:Screen Shot 2016-04-10 at 6.59.32 PM.pngThe Sunshine Champs by Karen Latchana Kenney History- Non-Fiction https://www.overdrive.com/media/646251/sunshine-champs Introduces readers to the state of Florida through symbols, history, and geography.
4)   Description: Macintosh HD:Users:samuelsy:Desktop:Screen Shot 2016-04-10 at 7.02.02 PM.pngThe Kids from Cassadaga: The History Channelers by Tim Black Historical Fiction, Fantasyhttps://www.overdrive.com/media/632727/the-kids-from-cassadaga You probably never learned that Benedict Arnold was the second president of the United States or that his visage adorned the ten dollar bill, or that Thomas Jefferson’s son Shippen Jefferson was the sixth president in lieu of John Quincy Adams. No, the reason you probably never learned these facts in high school was because The Young Historians of Cassadaga Area High School in Florida went back to 1776 and captured the ‘butterflies’ they had inadvertently let loose in Philadelphia, changing the history back to what we know today. Or did they? Join the students as they try to correct their mistake in The Kids from Cassadaga.
5)   Description: Macintosh HD:Users:samuelsy:Desktop:Screen Shot 2016-04-10 at 7.09.19 PM.pngFlorida by Mark Kesselring https://www.overdrive.com/media/1307105/florida Explore the colorful customs, people, and places of Florida. With straightforward text and captivating photos, this book is a great introduction to the state. Maps and symbols are included to enrich the student's understanding of geography and state identity.




Sunday, April 3, 2016

Storybird Picture Book


I made a picture book using the site Storybird. The title of the story is "Cheetah's Dream Meal". It is about a cheetah that chases the meal of his dreams. Here is the link to the story. "Cheetah's Dream Meal"


Friday, March 25, 2016

Literacy Center Study

Focus of the organization/service: 
            The location at which I did my literacy center study was at the school at which I teach. My school provides ESOL services for students whose home language is not English, or those who have recently moved to the country. Students who receive services is from Kindergarten to CET (Continuing Education). At my school, students receive pull-out services. At the elementary level, students are pulled during recess, sot that they do not miss any time in the classroom. Since I teach in elementary, I attended the sessions during which elementary ESOL students were receiving services.

What I saw:
            Each time I attended the pull-out sessions different kids, with different native languages were being serviced. During most of the sessions, children who were receiving services had a home language of Spanish. One child's home language was Chinese. He was recently adopted from China and is learning both ASL and English (Two languages at the same time I imagine is very difficult!)
           During these sessions, the focus is English vocabulary and comprehension. Students are asked to identify what they see in pictures. Students also sign or have reading passages signed to them and then asked to answer "wh" questions (who, what, when, where). Students also work on sentence construction.  
           Small group instruction is provided during these sessions. Two students are put together at one time.

Resources Used:
            In the ESOL classroom, there are visuals posted around the room. Graphics are posted about question words. Items are labeled such as cardinal directions of the room, the door, the clock, etc. Reading passages are provided through cold reads that come with the curriculum, Houghton Mifflins, Journeys. Vocabulary cards are also provided through this curriculum, There is one teacher in the classroom. She currently as has intern so students have more than one teacher this year.